Colorado has declined Aaron Cook‘s $11 million option for next season, choosing a $500,000 buyout instead after injuries limited the 32-year-old right-hander to 97 ineffective innings.

Cook was a workhorse for the Rockies from 2006-2008, but has thrown just 158, 128, and 97 innings during the past three seasons while posting a 4.94 ERA.

General manager Dan O’Dowd told Jim Armstrong of the Denver Post that “the door is open” for Cook to re-sign with the Rockies for a lesser salary, but presumably he’ll shop around for a multi-year deal or at least some decent guaranteed money first.

Anyone else remember watch the video/clip where he is pitching to Joey Votto in 2010. Votto hits the balls and it cracks right into Cook’s leg breaking or fracturing his tibia. I can still hear that sound.